(frur  (f laiDtnrt  Jminfltfl  on  %w\intsx 


^    IDISCOXJI^SE 


OrCASIOJiED    BV    THE    OKA71I     <)>' 


LIEUT.  GEN.  T.J.  JACKSON 


PREACHEn    IX    THE 


First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lynchburg, 


M:A."V    2  Atli,    1803. 


BY  REV.  JAMES  B.  RAMSEY. 


VIRGIXIAN  ''WATElt-POWER  PRESSES''  PRI^T 
1803. 


erac  Cwiwraa  ioM«M  on  golinfss. 


JL    IDISOOTJK-SE 


OCCA8I0"J»BD    BY    THE    DEAi^l    OF 


LIEUT.  GEN.  T.  J.  JACKSON. 


rREAClIEO    IX    THE 


First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lynchburg, 


Mj^V   yj*^:>,   i«o». 


BY  REV.  JAMES  B.  RAMSEY. 


Li  YNCHRURO ! 

VIRGIKIAX  ''WATER-rOWER  PRESSES" J'RiXf. 
1803. 


yi^LzoB 


Lvxcnnrna,  June  4.0th,  1863. 
Rp.v.  AMI  Dkar  Sik  — In  bclmlf  of  mapy  of  our  foUow-citizens,  who, 
like  most  of  the  undvsigned,  were  deprired  of  the  pleasure  of  heftring 
the  funeral  discourse,  which  yoi  >fttely  delivered  on  the  occaslon^of  the^ 
death  of  the  iUustriou?  and  lamented  Gcn'l  Jackson,  we  would  respect- 
f.illj  request  thfit  jou  consent  to  its  public.ition.  The  portraiture  of  the 
character  of  »  great  and  good  man,  by  one  who  enjoyed  his  intimacy  and 
who  is  so  compctenl  to  the  task,  should  not  be  confined  to  the  recOllec 
tions  of  a  single  congregation,  but  preserved  in  an  enduring  form. 

We  hope,  therefore,  you  will  feel  yourself  at  liberty  to  acocde  to  our 
retiuest,  and  remain 

Vonr  friends  imd  fellow  citizens, 

JXO.  M;  SPEED, 
JOHN  G.  MEEM, 
CIIAS.  W.  BUTTON, 
W.M.  M.  BLACKFORD, 
GEO.  M.  RUCKER, 
T.  C.  S.  FERGUSON, 
M.  LANGIIORNE,  Jk. 
JAS.  R.  HOLT, 
JXO.  0.  L.  GOGGIX-. 
To  Rev.  J.  B.  Ram?kv,  D.  D.,  rrcsenl. 


LvNCiii!LR(i,  June  2ith,  18G3. 
Gbntlkmk.n  :— The  discourse  to  which  you  refer  was  prepared  without 
the  remotest  idea  of  its  publication,  and  when  the  desire  for  this  was  first 
expressed,  t  doubted  its.proiiriety.  It  was  no.t  until,  having  consulted  the 
General's  own  immediate  connections,  aijd  having*  submitted  the  manu- 
script to  his  bereaved  widow  and  bis  pastor,  their  approval  and  I  may  add 
eai'nest  wish  was  added  to  your  own,  tha1>  I  felt  at  liberty  to  accede  to  the 
request.  With  tlic  liope  thitt  the  same  Divine  blessing^hat  always  at- 
tended that  1)c1ov(m1  and  honored  nianj  nfay  attcjid  this  imperfect  effort  to 
hold  up  before  hia  coimtrymcuhis  bright  example,  il  is  herewith  at  your 

disposal.  '  .  ♦ 

With  much  respect,  yours  truly, 

JAS.  B.  RAMSEY. 
To  Jno.  M.  Si'EED,  Esq.,  and  others. 


True  Eniiueucc  Founded  on  Holiness. 


"  I  will  set  him  oa  high,  because  he  hath  known  ray  name."'  Psalms, 
91  :  VEKSE   14.  .  .    ■  .  ' 

"  IIow  are  the  mighty  fallen  in  the  midst  of  the  battle  I 
0,  Jonathan  I  thou  wast  slain  in  thj  high  places."  Sueh 
was  the  lament  of  David  and  Israel  over  the  brave  and 
generous  Jonathan,  slain  in  the  high  places  of  the  field,  in 
defence  of  his  country  and  people,  against  their  liereditarv 
foes  :  and  such  is  now  a  nation's  lament  over  a  greater  than 
Jonathan  the  son  of  Saul.  "With  a  stricken  heart,  and 
bi^er  tears,  Ihis  whole  people  bow  in  grief,  and  as  one  man, 
are  ready  to  utter  the  touching  words  of  David  over  his 
•  friend  :  "  We  are  distressed  for  thee :  very  pleasant  hast 
thou  been  unto  us  :  thy  love  to  us  was  wonderful,  passinf^ 
the  love  of  women.  How  are  the  mighty  fallen,  and  the 
weapons  of  war  perished  !  " 

Our  beloved  Jacicson  was  slain  emphatically  in  his  high 
places;  in  the  hi^h  places  of  his  God's  and  his  country's 
service,  in  the  very  zcniy;^  of  his  fame  and  usefulness.  Few 
men  in  our  world  have  ever  attained  to  greater  eminence : 
none  to  purer.  The  nation  accorded  to  hiui  its  entire  confi- 
dence ;  it  rung  with  his  praise,  and  its  whole  heart  thrilled 
with  true  affection  for  him.  Our  enemies  at  ©nee  feared 
and  honored  him.  His  praise  is  heard  in  distant  lands. 
Envy  had  to  gnash  her  teelh'in  silence,  fdr  in  the  universal 
en^uslasm,  sho  dared  not  speak*  The  Church  of  Christ 
praised  God  continually  for  such  a  burning  and  a  shining 
light,  and  multitudes  of  souls,  especially  in  our  army,  hi^h 
officers  and  privates,  will  rejoice  eternally  in  that  light. 

This  eminence  was  not  the  result  of  brilliant  and  tower- 
ing genius',  or  of  a  chance  combination  of  favorable  circum- 
cumstances.  His  whole  history  shows  a  combination  of 
circumstances  against  it,  such  as  is  not  often  overcome. 
Success  was  in  his  case  extorted,  compelled  from  unwilling 
and  adverse  events,  and  in  spite  of  difficulties  that  at  first 

I  sight  might  have  been  regarded  as  insuperable.     A  brief 
sketch  of  his  life  will' show  this,  and  will  best  prepare  the 


way  for  the  Important  truth  wrapped  up  in  all  that  life,  and 
blazing  Forth' in  all  his  oliaracter,  that  it  was  God  who  made 
him  great,  by  making  him  holy. 

Lieut.  Gon.  Thomas  J.  Jackson  was  born  in  Clarksburg, 
Harrison  county,  Virginia,  \u  January,  1824.*  Ilis  ances- 
tors were  from  Efigland.  Some  military  faste  an4  talent 
appears  to  have  been  iniierent  in  the  family.  His  own 
father  was  a  successful  lawyer,  and  at  one  time,  a  man  of 
considerable  property,  but  by  suretyship  for  others  lost  it 
all,  and  died  leaving  three  children  only,  one  of  whom,  a 
dai^hter,  is  now  living.  TiiOMAS,  at  his  father's  death,  was  * 
only  three  years  old.  About  six  years  after,  his"  mother 
died  in  the  triumphs  of  christian  faith  and  hope.  Iler 
memory  was  always  very  precious.  Do  we  not  see  here  the 
first  of  that  chain  of  influences  that  made  him  what  he  was? 
Who  can  ever  tell  the  power  of  that  mother's  example  and 
prayer's  ? 

.  Thus,  bereft  of  his  father  and  hjs  mother,  the  Lord  took 
him  up.  He  found  homos  among  his  relati\'«s^  especisflly 
his  uncles.  His  early  education  was  irregular,  and  neces-* 
sarily  imperfect,  until  he  entered  tike  West  Point  Military 
Academy.  There  he  manifested  the  same  traits  of  quiet 
indomitable  perseverance  and  singleness  of  pu456se  that 
aft^wards  so  distinguished  him,  and  that  then  went  very 
far  to  make  up  for  his  very  imperfect  preparation.  From 
tke  Academy  he  at  once  entered  the  service  of  his  country 
in  the'  Mexican  war.  By  his  Jffomptitade,  bravery  and 
coolness,  he  there  highly^  distinguished  himself.  It  was 
du^'ing  this  campaign,  or  i\\\\\c  quartered  in  the  halls  of  the 
Montezumas — as  we  are  assured  he  literally  was — that  he 
first  seems*  to  have  bepome  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the 
importance  of  personal  religion,  partly,  at  least,  through 
intercourse  with  the  pious  Colonel  of  his  battalion.  With 
the  same  prompt  energy,  and  thoroughness,  and  zeal,  that  he 
always  manifested  in  whatever  he  regarded  as  present  duty, 
he  resolv-cd  to  examine  the  whole  subject  of  religion  in  its 
personal*' claims,  and  its  system  of  truth.  Being  satisfied 
that  the  Bible  was  from  God,  the  great  question, was,  where 
and  by  whom  was  its  truth  most  fully  and  purely  held  ? 
Determined  "to  take  nothing  for  granted,  or  at  secondhand, 
he  at  once  availed  himself  of  what  seemed  to  him  the  rare 
opportunity  there  afforded  of  examining  the  Roman  Catholic 

•For  most  of  the  iiiteri'.-ting  fiicls  In  this  sketch- 1  ank indebted  to  a  coijnecHon  of  his,  k 
TBiued'fiiBiKl,  wlio  for  jcurH  wus  in  dnily  und  fiiinlliar  luterconrBC  with  him. 


religion,  by  waiting  on  the  Archbishop  of  Mexico,  with  whom 
he  had  frequent  interviews,  extending  through  gome  months, 
I  think,  during  which  ho  was  taken  in  order  over  Hhe  main 
parts  of  their  whole  system,  and  propounded  his  .own  dift- 
culties.  These  last  could  not  be  resolved  to  his  satisfaction, 
and  the  result  was  a  firm  conviction  that  this,  at  Least,  was 
not  the  Bible  system.  With  the  stync  impartial  zeal  and 
k)ve  of  truth,  and  disregard  to  meie  human  authority,  did 
he  pursue  this  search  for  some  years  before  his  mind  became 
satisfied.  Gen.  Jackson  was  therefore  the  farthest  possibio 
removp  from  being  a  bigot.  His  views  of  each  denomination 
were  obtained  from  itself,  not  from  its  opponents.  Hence  he 
could  see  excellencies  in  each.  Even  of  Popery  ht  had  a 
much  more  favorable  impression  than  most  Protestants, 
and  it  would  be  well  for  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  would 
greatly  tend  to  promote  fraternal  feeling  and  kill  bigotry,  if 
we  would  all,  in  our  search  for  truth,  gather  our  views  of 
others,  not  from  their  opponents  alone,  but  from  the  best  and 
wisest  of  themselves,  as  Jackson  did. ' 
.  After  his  return  from  Mexico,  and  being  quartered  for  a 
time  in  South  Carolina,  Florida,  find  New  York,  his  health 
became  so  shattered  as  to  nearly  unfit  him  for  any -active 
duty.  It  was  at  this  time,  and  while  endeavoring  to  regain 
his  health,  that  he  was  elected  to  the  Professorship  of 
Applied  Mathematics  in  the  Virginia  Militn*"y  Institute.  In 
his  very  entrance  on  that  work  with  very  feeble  health,  and 
eyes  that  totally  forbade  his  using  them  at  all  by  night,  he 
exhibited  that  same  quiet  energy  of  will  and  mental  disci- 
pline that  afterward  contributed  so  greitly  to  his  success  in 
the  field.  Running  rapidly  over  many  pages  of  mathemati- 
cal reasonings  before  night,  he  would,  as  we  learn  from 
members  ©f  the  family  who  knew  his  habits  well,  after  durk, 
without  book  oi;  help,  holding  the  complicated  materials 
before  his  mind,  examine,  analyze  and  thoroughly  master 
the  demonstrations. 

There  he  first  entered  into  full  connectron  with  the  church. 
From  that  time,  the  harmony  and  force  of  bis  character 
became  still  more  apparent.  With  him,  to  know  his  duty 
and  to  do  it,  were  the  same  thing.  Humble  and  retiring 
almost  to  a  fault,  he  would  never  shrink  from  any  duty. 
Whatever  sacrifice  of  feeling  it  might  cost  him.  A  striking 
instance  of  this  I  had  from  his  own  lips,  when  speaking  of 
the  trial  it  cost  him  to  speak  before  an  audience.  Being 
on  a  visit  to  his  sister,  where  were  residing  a  number   of 


6 


professed  infidels,  and  where  there  was  but  little  religious 
influence,  tlie  thought  occurred  to  him  that,  being  a  military 
man,  they  might  be  wiUing  to  listen  to  something  from  him, 
more  favorably  than  from  others,  though  it  might  be  much 
inferior.  And  he  at  once  resolved  to  prepare  and  deliver  a 
few  lectures  on  the  evidences  of  Christianity,,  which  he  did ; 
fchough  the  delivery,  he,  said,  was  one  of -the  greatest  trials 
he  ever  had.  Where,  among  a  thousand,  is  there  another  of 
like  temperament  who  would  not,  at  once,  have  excused 
himself  from  such  an  obligation?  Ho  .formed  a  class  of 
young  men  for  instruction  in  the  evidences  of  christainity ; 
and  for  years  lie  superintended  with  great  zeal  andcfiiciency 
a  SabbMh  school  for  the  instruction  of  the  colored  people  of 
Lexington,  the  bencfieial  example  of  which  has  been  w-idely 
felt.  Liberal  to  tlie  full  extent  of  his  means,  God  prospered 
him  according  to  his  promise,  that  "  the  liberal  soul  shall  be 
made  fat."         *  •» 

When  he  entered  the  army  at  the  beginning  of  the  war, 
he  did  it  in  obedience  to  the  call  of  his  God,  as  well  as  of 
his  country,  llence^  no  love  of  ease,  of  f;-iends,  of  houifi, 
or  domestic  joys,  could  induce  one-  moHjents  relaxation  of 
energy  in  tlie  single  line  of  his  duty.  He  never,  during  the 
two  years  of  his  service,  left  the  camp — never  saw  hjs 
home  and  for  thirteen  months  at  a  time  was  separated  from  his 
beloved  wife.  Of  his  military  life  and  exploits,  this  is  not 
the  place  or  the  time  to  speak ;  the  country  and  the  world 
knows  thejn  and  they  will  yet  appear,  doubtless,  in  fitting 
narrative.  But  his  deep  interest  in  the  spiritual  jwelfare  of 
his  army,  deserves  here  special  notice.  Who  does  not  know 
that  this  was  an  object  for  Avhich  he.  labored  most  assiduously 
and  durmg  the  last  year,  especially  with  great  success  ? 
Busy  as  he  wj^s  with  personal  attention  to  every  .thing  con- 
nected with  the  efficiency  of  his  army,  boJ;h  at  rest  and  in 
motion,  he  alVays  found  t]me  to  attend  to  this.  He  devised 
and  suggested  a  great  comprehensive  plan  for  the  organi- 
zation of  the  chajflaincy  system,  which  is  now  being  carried 
into  eftcct  with  prospects  of  great  success.  To  his  pastor, 
Dr.  White,  he  wrote  a  long  letter  on  this  subject,  which 
would  itself  be  a  most  noble  portrait  of  his  religious  charac- 
ter. All  his  letters  showed  how  full  his  heart  was  of  this 
matter,  and  all  seemed  to  he  wi-i^ten  from  the  very  precincts 
of  tiie  throne. 

In  a  letter  received  from  him,  only  about  a  inonth  before 
his  death,  he  thus  speaks:     "Whilst  as  Christians  we  must 


all  have  trials,  yet  wo  have  the  precicms  assurance  tha^  they 
work  out  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  -weight  of 
glory.  *  ^:  *  jf  you  had  the  physical  strength,  I  would 
be  greatly  gratified  to  see  you  in  the'  army.  It  appears  to 
me  that  I  have  never  seen  such  a  field  for  Christian  cflfort. 
I  am  greatly  gratified-  at  having  Mr.  B.  T.  Lacy  with  the 
army.  His  labors,  I  trust,  will  be  greatly  blessed.  So  far, 
great  encouragement  has  attended  them.  I  am  much 
obliged  to  you  for  your  prayers,  and  beg  that  I  may  still 
have  an  interest  in  them.  It  is  to  God  that  we  mus*  look  for 
peace,  and  for  its  enjoyment  when  it  is  bestowed."  But  the 
following  extract  from  a  letter  to  his' pastor,  the  substance 
of  which  the  latter  read  at  his  funeral,*ha8  special  interest 
as  showing  his  moral  greatness.  "  The  death  of  your  noble 
son*  and  my  much  esteemed  friend,  Hugh,  must  have  been  a 
severe  blow  to  you,  yet  we  have  the  sweet  assurance  that, 
whilst  we  mourn  his  loss  to  the  country,  to  the  church,  and 
to  ourselves,  all  has  been  gaiji  to  him.  '  Eye  hath  not  seen, 
nt)r  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  the 
things  which  God  hath  prepared  for  those  that  love  him.' 
That  inconceivable  glory  to  which  we  are  looking  forward  is 
already  his.  I  greatly  desire  in  the  array  such  officers  as  he 
was.  *  *  *  *•  When  in  the  Valley  there  was  much' 
religious  interest  among  my  troops,  and  1  trust  that  it  has 
not  died  out.  It  appears  to  me  that  we  should  look  for  a 
great  work  of  grace  among  our  troops,  officers  and  privates, 
for  our  army  has  been  made  the  subject  of  prayer  by  all 
denominations  of  Christians  in  the  Confederacy.  *■  *  '  ♦ 
*  I  am  very  grateful  for  your  prayers  and  the  pray.ers 
of  other  Christian  friends.  Continue  to  pray  for  me.  I 
wish  I  could  be  Avith  you  in  the  church  and  lecture 
room,  whenever  our  people  meet  to  worship  God.  *  * 
*  "'  Let  us  work  and  pray  that  our  people  may  bo 
that  nation  whose  God  is  the  Lord.  It  is  delightful  to  see 
the  Congressional  Committee  report  so  strqngly  against 
Sabbath  mails.  I  trust  that  yau  will  write  to  every  member 
of  Congress  with  whom  you  have  any  influence,  and  do  all 
you  can  to  procure  the  adoption  of  the  report.  And  plqase 
request  those  witK  whom  you  correspond  (when  expedient) 
to  do  the  same.  I  believe  that  God  will  bless  us  with  suc- 
cess if  Christians  but  do  their  duty,  ^ov  near  fifteen  years 
Sabbath  mails  have  been  through  God's  blessing  avoided  by 


•Copt,  Uiigh  A.  White,  whd  fcU  In  the  second  battle  of  Manassas.^ 


8 

me,  Jlhd  I  am  thankful  to  say  that,  in  no  instance  has  there 
been  occasion  for  regret,  but  on  tiie  contrary  God  has  made 
it  a  source  of  pure  enjoyment  to  mc." 

On  tliis  subject  of  Sabbath  mails  he  felt  very  deeply,  as 
he  did  on  everything  aft'ccting  the  favor  or  the  frown  of  God 
upon  our  countiT.  Just  before  his  last  "battle,  he  wrote  a 
long  letter  on  this  subject,  perhaps  the  very  last  he  ever 
penned,  to  his  connection.  Col.  Preston,  ■\yho  was  a  commis- 
sioner to  the  General  Assembly,  requesting  him  to  secure 
some  appropriate  action  from  that  body  in  favor  of  {heir 
abolishment.  His  heart  seemed  thus  to  be  so  full  of  deep 
interest  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  army,  and  the  advance- 
ment of  the  chtrck's  interest,  and  her  enterprises,  as  if  it 
■were  the  one  aijd  tlie  only  thing  to  which  his  energies  were 
devoted  ;  and  yet  the  country  and  the  world  and  especially 
the  army  know  that  the  minutest  military  duty  or  interest 
was  never  by  him  neglected  or  postponed. 

The  sad  circumstances  of  his  wounding,  his  sicknees  and 
death,  are  well  known  and'  need  not  here  be  repeated.  A 
perfect  knowledge  of  all  the  facts  will,  we  are  very  sure,  re- 
move all  suspicion  of  imprudence  or  rashness  from  the  move- 
ment which  led  to  his  wounding,  and  will  show  it  to  have 
•  be#n  an  event  which  no  human  skill  or  foresight  could  prob- 
ably have  prevented  in  the  case  of  one  whose  fixwl  principle 
it  was,  we  believe,  to  see  with  his  own  eyes  whatever  was 
necessary  to  the  disposition  of  his  troops  in  battle,  and  whose 
Euccess  was  doubtless  greatly  owing  to  this  fact.  You  have 
heard  how  looking  at  his  stump  and  wounded  hand,  he  said, 
"  I  would  not  b»  without  these  ^vounds  now,  even  if  I  could. 
God  has  sent  them  upon  me  for  some  good  purpose.  I  re- 
gard them  as  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  of  my  life." 
With  what  true  christian  submission  and  heroism  he  received 
the  announcement  that  he  ha«l  but  a,  few  more  hours  to  live, 
answering,  /'  -Very  good,  very  good,  I  'w'ill  be  an  infinite 
gainer,  to  be  translated."  When  his  little  child,  which  had 
been  baptised  in  the  camp  .only  a  few  weeks  before,  was 
brought  in — he  exclaimed,  with  all  the  fullness  of  a  father's 
heart — '■'■  my  darling  child  J"  and  having  attempted  to  amuse 
it  with  his  crippled  hand  for  a  few  moments,  he  commended 
it  to  God.  His  wife  asked  him,  are  you  perfectly  willing 
that  God  should  d"o  with  you  just  as  he  pleaees  ?  With 
characteristic  simplicity  and  decision  both  of  language  and 
tone,  he  replied,  ''I  prefer  it,  I  prefer  it." 

Such  a  deatj^  was  a  fitting  close  to  such  a  life.     It  was 


cmphaticivlly  a  traiislatian  from  the  liigU  places  of  hisoarthly 
famc,-+o  the  infinitely  higher  places  of  heavenly  glory.     To 

"the  church,  and  the  country  in  this  hour  of  our  pcai"il,  his 
loss  sccins  irreparable.  But  the  God  that  raitjed  him  up, 
can  raise  up  others  in  his  place, — his  resources  are  not  cx- 
haustctl,— and  whiU  is  more,  can  make  that  life  now  ended 
a  greater  blessing,  ft  mightier  power  for  .goad  than  ever  be- 
fore. This  wilj  be  so  if  he.  only  makes  it  a  means  of  im- 
pressing on  the  heart  of  this  whole  people  -the  truth,  of 
which"  it  was  such  a  brilliant  illustration, — that  holiness  is 
power,  jmd  it  alone  secures  true  eminence. 

()nr  text  which  is  but  ,q,  statement  of  this  truth,- 'is  a  con- 
centration ©f  Gen."  Jackson's  whole  history.  It  is  Ji,is  life 
and  his  character,  his  fame  aiid  its  secret  source,  all  in  a 
single  -ecntcnce.  It  declares  the  secret  of  his  great  emi- 
nence. God  set  him  on  high,  because'  he  honored  God. 
This  whole  Psalm  beautifully  and  strikingly  applies  to  him. 
It  ^lescribes  the  Divine  protection  and  honor  of  the  man 
that  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High,  that 
sayfe  of  the  Lord,  He  is  my  vofuge  and  my  foiJtress  :  my 

•God,  in  him  will  I  trust.  It  is  of  Jiim  that  God  here  says, 
""I  will  set  hitu'ou  high,  "b^causo  he  hath  known  my  name." 
To  Inioic  the  name  of  Crod  is  to  recognize  his  true  character, 
and  to' love,  serve  and  trust  him  accordingly.  It  is  but 
another  expression  fortruo  godliness,  or  holiness.  The  text 
is,  the-refore,  but  the  declaratiou  of  God's  purpose  to  .honor 
those  who  honor' him  :  "I  will  set  him  o^hig-h  —  I  will 
make  him  safe  and  great,  bce.a;  c  he  Bath  regarded  not  his 
own  name  and  glory,  but  mine.'  Or  in  the  language  of  the 
immediate  context, — "  Becausv  lie  hath  set  his  love  upon  me 
therefore  will  I  deliver  hirrj.  *  *  *  *  lie  shall  c.-dl 
upon  nie.  and  I  will  answer  hiNi  5  I  will  be  Avith  him  141  trou- 
ble, I  will  deliver  him  and  honqr  him."  The  same, purpose 
he  elsewhere  thus  expresses.  -^  Them  that  honor  rtue  I  will 
honor,  and  they  thjit  despise  "liie  shall  bo  lightly  esteemed." 
"  If  any  man  serve  me,"  says  Chrigt,  "  him  will  my  Father 

-honor."  •      ' 

To  this  as  a  general  truth  some  will  be  disposed  to  demur 
and  to  say  that  religion* does  not  always  secUro,  eufmence  • 
thjit  cages  like  this  arc  exceptions  to  the'gcncral  rule, — that 
so  far  from  the  fear  of  God  elevating  men  in  view  of  the 

/world  it  has  the  opposite  object,  inasmuch  as  men  do  not 
love  but  hate  holi^ci^s,  and  religion  prevents  men  from  usin"- 
the  means  necessary  to  secure  earthly  honors  ;   indeed,  that' 


10 


it  is  inc^naisteut  viiih.  entering  upon  the  eager  strife  and 
contention  made  neccssarj  by  the  rivah'y  they  awaken. 
Much  of  this  is  doubtless  true.  In  the  arciia  whoro  worldly 
honors  arc  the  prize,  the  man  of  God  May  nort  an.d  ^vill  not 
descend.  For  him  they  have  no  charms.  He  knows,  their 
emptiness.  To  him  they  ai'c  the  veriest  baubles.  And  no 
man  ever  held  them  in  more  utter  contempt  than  Jacksox 
did.  These,  arc  nol  the  high  places  to  which  the  man  of 
God  aspires,  and.  in  which  God  has  hero  promised  to  put 
him.  To  be  elevated  to  theia  alono  is  no  real  eminence. 
When  properly  liuderstood  there  Is  no  exception  to  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  text  ,that  the  fear  of  God  alo^e  can  ^-aise  any 
man  to  the  hi^icst  eminence  of  Avhich  he  is. capable. 

1.  To  make  fhis  clear  consider  first  what  true  greatness  real 
ciniucnce,  is.  If  is  not  mere  worldly  honor,  or  higji  place, 
or  great  power.  To  attain  these,  indeed-,  needs  no  religion, 
the}'  :'.re,  when  taken  "npart  from  moral  excellence,  the  re- 
Wiifds  with  whioli  the  devil  h:>s  always  lured  his  willing  vic- 
tims to  the  giddy  heigiits  of  their  own  ruin.  As  he  tempted 
our  Saviour,  so  he  tempts  men  still ;  pointing  to  the  king- 
doms of  the  world  and  the  glory  of  them,  he  says,  ''All 
these  vail  I  give  thee,  if  thou  wiU  falluown  and  worship  me." 
The  devil  has  his  high  places,  wliich  hovrevcr  similar  they 
may  sometimes  be  in  appearance,  are  as  different  -fa-om  the 
real  eminence  to  vfhich  holiness  exalts,  as  darkness  is  from 
light,  as  the  height  of  the  gallows  is  from  that  of  the  throne. 
The  -great  ones  of  this  world  have  by  their  -fame  and  their 
glory  only  been  pilloried  on  high  to  the*  pitying  or  con- 
temptuous gaze  of  all  sucpeedisig  generations  of  the  wise  and 
good.  So  it  has  beeil  with  almost  all  Vho  have  iilled  tlic 
thrones  of  eartlu  wi-th  sill  indeed  except  where  moral  wortli 
li::s  been  eminent.  So  with  a  -Bja-on  in  the  loftiest  llights 
of  poetic  genius;  v,'ith  a  Laplace  iri  the  sublime  researches  of 
the  astronomer ;  with  an  Alexander,  and  a  Napoleon  in  the 
highest  and  'widest  sweep  of  military '  achievements.  Men 
may  and  tliey  will  'rronder  at  their  genius,  their  vast  acquirc- 
ment/i,  their  power  Mid  deeds  cf  daring,  but  where  is  tlie 
wise  and  good  man,  the  enlightened  }"over  of  his  race,  who 
does  not  lament  over  the  shameful  prostitutioja  of  all  this 
talent,' learning  and  power  to  the  purposes  of  a  low  and  sel- 
fish ambition ;  and  regard  them  as  brilliant  Avrecks  strewed 
!iU  along  the  shores  of  time  as  beacons  to  future  generations  ? 
If  mere  intellcetual  superiority  or  artistic  skill,  or  indomita- ' 
ble  energy  and  vast  power  coidd  raise  its  possessor  on  high, 


•     n 

*hcii  has  tho  devil  attwined  an  eminence  that  none  of  the 
sons  of  men  may  hope  to  reach. 

_  True  eminence  is  inseparable  from  liolincss.  In  this  con- 
sists especially  the  glory  of  God :  M-ithout  it  ail  his  other  at- 
tributes would-be  objects  of  horror  and  dread  just  in  propor- 
tion to  their  infinite  grcntncss.  Although  it  is  true  that 
m<?n#iatc  holiness  naturally,  when  its  claims  are  urged  upon 
their  hearts'  filled  with  fleshly  and  worldly  lusts,  or  -when  it 
shinesso  near  and  so  brightly  upen  tlicra  as  to  disclose  tlieir 
own  meral  deformity,  yet  it  is  jjlso  fcrue  that  God  has  so  cre- 
ated us  that  wo  are  irresistibly  impressed  ^itli  the  feelin<'  of 
its  .infinite  excellence,  and  compelled  to  conscious  veneration 
for  it;  Did  not  the  proud  and  envioutj  Pharisees  even  when 
they  sought  to  slay  JesUs,  feel  and  shrink  in  shame  from 
the  dazzling,  brightness  of  his  unsJ)ottcd  holiness?  You 
may  gather  roubd  your  name  all  the  glory  that  genius,  learn- 
ing, skill,  or  military  prowess  can  impart,  yJt  if  this  one  ^rand 
element  of  moral  excellducc  be  not  there  pervading  and  con- 
trolling and  modifying  all  the  rest,  that  name  •^nll  only  ctq 
down  to  posterity  to  carry  your  shame  and  disgrace  on  ac- 
count of  God's  pervcrtod  gifts. 

J2.  But  more  than  this.  True  religion  has  a  necessary 
tendency  to  produce  those  qualities  that  alone  can  fit  men 
foi*  the  highest  stations  and  the'  noblest  deeds.  Wo  do  not 
mean  to  assert  here  merely  that  the  possession  of  those  dis- 
positions of  heart  and  principles  of  action  that  constitute 
true  religion  fit  a  man  better  to  fill  any  position  in  life  what- 
ever. This  none  will  dare  deny.  Truly  to  fear  God  must 
produce  an  elevation  of  character,  a  purity  of  motive,  a  su- 
periority to  temptation,  a  sense  of  accountability,  a  submis- 
sion  to  lawful  authority,  that  cannot  but  mate  men  better 
whether  as  servants  or  masters,  citizens,  soldiers,  generals 
or  rulers.  Bwt  in  addition  to  this  it  tends  to  develop  to  the 
highest  degree  those  -other  mental  qualities  .necessary  to  fill 
most  completely  the  highest  offi(5es  and  to  meet  the  most  re- 
sponsible trusts.  What  greater  obstacle  is  there  to  the  full 
development  of  i7itdle<jtual  power,  vigorous  thou^-ht,  close 
reasoning,  jmd  clear  and  bold  and  lofty  conception  than  the- 
workings  of  pride  and  passion  and  appetite,  or  the  distrac- 
tions or  care,  or  fear,  or  the  influence  of  conflicting  motives 
or  tho  want  of  one  great  noble  end  of  life  ?  And  what  in-  ' 
fluence  ever  entered  a  human  heavt  that  could  so  eftcctually 
remove  all  these,  and  relieve  the  intellect  from  every  cloo-, 
and  banish  every  disturbing  element  as  the  fear  and  love  of 


12  , 


God  ?  Again,  nothing  so  warps  the  ;iu<l(fmcnt  :is  passion, 
impatience,  fear  and  selfishness — and  -whatever  else  weakens 
the  intellectual  or  moral  force,,  and  as  nothing  so  completely 
corrects  these  as  true  holiness,  nothing  contributes  go  largely 
and  cfieotually  to  soundness  of  judgment.  There  are  natural 
incapacities  that  of  couipe  no  religion  can  remove  ;  but 
riierc  arc  no  capacities  so  feeble  that  true  religion  wil]^ix)t 
thus  eiilargc  and  invigorate  and  make  tliera  toaxjcomplich 
far  beyond  what  any'culture  could  dh  without  it.  And  there 
are  no  capacities  so  groat,  i\o  genius  so  brilliant  that  true 
holiness  —  the  exccllcncG  of  God  himself,  would  not  .have 
made  far  greater,  and  covered  with"a  brighter  brilliance  and 
power.  Many  a^nan  of  far  inferior  talent  has  thus  been  set 
on  high  above  the  child  of  9|pnins,  both  in  intellectual  power, 
in  sound  judgmeart  and  in  the  inliuence  (Exerted,  liut  in 
n^othing  is  the  elevating  power  of  religion  greater  and  more  • 
manifest  than  in  the  singleness  of  aim  it  secures  and  the 
'concentration  of  all  its  energies  on  one  grand  end.  This  ia 
the  deepest  secret  of  all  high  success  in  any  pursuit.  Sin 
disorgamizes  and  divides  ;  holiness  unites.  This  is  especially 
true  of  the  human  soul.  When  the  soul  truly  knows  God 
as  its  God  and  trusts  him,  Avhen  it  has  no  m\\  but  liis,  and 
no  end  but  to  obey  liim,  it  acquires  a  force  and  vigor,  a  con- 
centration of  enw'gy  otherwise  impossible  There  is  th6n 
no  waste  of  power  J  e-very  little  rill  of  thought  and  fecliag, 
and  desire  and  liopc  flows  into  the  great  curnpnt  of  tlie  lead- 
ing pui:pose-,  and  from  U'lat  .pu.rpose  every  selfish  end  is  ex- 
cluded. There  are  no  by-ends  to  divide  and  divert  the  at- 
tention and  energies.  Not  a  particle  of  power  is  lost.  Fear 
and  anxieties  about  the  future  cannot  <listurb  it,  for  all  that 
it  trusts  in  God's  hands ;  the  possible  results  to  itself  cannot 
conic  into  the  account,  for  that  too  belongs  to  God  to  ar- 
range ;  there  are  no  cimllicting  motives  nqd  purposes  as  self- 
indulgence  or  ambition,  for  ihe^e  are  all  set  aside  by  the  one 
absorbing  and  comprehensive  end  of  life  and  rule  of  duty. 
Nothing  but  holiness  can  perfectly  unite  the  soul,  and  de- 
velop its  full  energy.  In  evei'y  other  pase  where  it  seems 
•united  by  the  overmastering  force  of  some  ruling  passion,' 
as  in  the  case  of  Napoleon,'  by  an  ambition  thnt  sacrificed 
at  its  shrine  every  dictate  of  conscience  and  feeling  of  af- 
fection, there  is  this  gi-eat  clement  both  of  weakness  and 
shame — the  moral  natnl*o  is  crusljed,  and  that  which  ought 
to  rule,  aiid  wliicli  ruling  by  the  fear  of  God,  would  coa- 
tri1)ute  an  energy  and  force  beyond  any  other  single  elc- 


L 


13 


ment,  is  not  oniy  lo^t,  but  much  of  the  soul's  true  power  has 
been  used  up  in  resisting  and  cvushing  it,  an-d  even  then  the 
disturbing  voice  of  an  ovcvbornc  and  abused  conscience  ■will 
still  at  times  be  heard  causing  more  or.lcss  wavering  and  in- 
decision. Thus,  true  religion,  by  "the  pure  stimulu^it  ap- 
plies to  intellectual  power  by  its  removal  of  all  those  mists 
of  solf-love,  passion  and  preju.dice  Avhi^i  becloud  the.  judg- 
ment, au<l  by  tiiat. power  which  it  alone, possesses  of  produc- 
ing entire  singleness  of  aim  and  concentration  of  cnerijy, 
m\ist  tend  to  secure  to  its  possessor  the  highest  eminence" of 
.which  Ji^,  naiuro  is  capable.  In  the  very  constitution  of  our 
bciug  God  has  thus  secured  the  fulfillment  of  the  assurance 
— "I  will  set  him  on  high,  because  he  hath  knoAvn  my 
name." 

o.  Still,  again.  To  deny  that  holiness  secures  the  high- 
est eminence  is  to  deny  that  a  holy  God  governs  the  world. 
"'The  Lord  reigneth,'  and  therefore  all  who  do"  sincerely 
and  wholly  servo  him,  who  make  his  will  their  only  law 
and  his  glory  their  great  end,  must  fall  in  with  the  line 
of  his  designs  and  providences,  and  secure  his  favor  and 
blessing.''  For  promotion  cometh  neither  from  the  east  nor 
fro.In  the  w§st,  nor  fi-om  the  south.  33-ut  God  is  the  judge  ; 
Ire  putteth  down  one  and  sotteth  up  another."  The  reason 
why  so  many  of  his  people  are  visited  with  disappointment 
and  grievous  failure  in  their  plan's  ;  why  instead  of  attaining 
eminence  in  character,  reputation  and  influence,  they  are 
kept  in  obscurity,  and  visited  with  shame  and  confusion,  is 
that  their  knowledge  of  God,  and  consecration  to  his  service 
is  so  imperfect,  so  marred  by  selushness-aud  worldliness  that 
instead  of  their  lives  bein^  radient  with  the  beauty  and 
power  of  lidlincss,  their  inconsistencies  secure  the  contempt 
jjven  of.  the  world,  and  they  prevent  themselves  from  attain- 
ing the  very'dlcments  of  character  necessary  to  high  success  ; 
and  success,  even  if  possible,  would  only  be"  their  ruin,  their 
final  elevation  to  glory  requiring  the  present  severe  and  con- 
tinued disotpline  of  worldly  dishonor.     • 

Since,  then,  holiness  is  an  essential  elepent  in  all  true 
greatness,  all  othey  eminence  being  only  in  the 'end  an  emi- 
nence to  shame ;  since  it  is  necessary  to  give  to  the  intellect 
its  full  vigor,  to  the  judgment  its  clearest  light,  and  to  the 
wiiole  character  the  full. force  of' undivided  energy ;  since  it  is 
necessary  to  secure  the  Divine  favor  and  tha  special"  blessiuo" 
of  Providence*  it  is  evident  that  the  true  and  the  hif^hest 
emiuu'iice  cannot  be  attained  without  "t,  and  must  ever  be 
scciu'fd  by  it.  * 


14 


The  history  of  our  world  affords  many  illustrious  exam- 
ples (if  eminence  secured  by  holinipss,.  Joseph  in  Egypt, 
Ilezckiah  on  the  tlirone  of  Judab,  Daniel  in  ]3abylon,"Paul 
in  the  early  Church ;— and  in  latter  times  an  Edward  VI. 
on  the  Throne  of  England,  an  Andrew  Mollyille  inScotland, 
a  Gustavus '  Adolplius  jn  Sweden/,  a  Sir  Matthew  HaJo 
among  lawyers,  a  Thomas  Budgott  among  merchants,  a  Gar- 
dener and  Uavelock  atnong  soldiers — arc  a  few  of  the  most 
familiar  names,  together  with  a  whole  multitude  of  others 
whose  names  arc  perpetuated  in  their  writings.  But,  al- 
though others  have  stood  higher  in  position,  ami  in  »ttain- 
inents,  none  stand  forth  as  more  truly  illustrious,  or  will  go 
down  to  posterity  with  greater  honcr  and  a  more  powerful 
and  blessed  influence  than  the  name  of  our  own  beloved 
Jackson,  as  one  whom  God  hath  set  on  high,  because  lie 
honored  God  with  all  his  heart  and  life.  His  character,  as 
faj"  as  known  must  secure  this.  There  was  something  in  it 
so  uni(|ue  and  yet  so  simple, — it  was  at  once  so  severe  and' 
yet  so  gcntfc,  so  daring  and  yet  so  shrinking,  that  I  will  not 
even  attempt  a  full  delineation  of  it.  A  few  traits  only  will 
be  here  presented,  such  as  show  him. to  have  been  an  embodi- 
ment of  the  truths  we  have  been  discussing.  And  in  speak- 
in  «•  of  his  character  we  speak  with  confidence  ;  for  we  speak 
what  we  do  know.  An  acquaintance  of  years,  that  had 
ripened  into  a  warm  friendship, — and  habits  of  special  inti- 
macy with  those  Avho  were  in  daily  intercourse  with  him,  and 
to  whom  Jpiis  character  was  always  an  object  of  admiration 
and  study,  enable  me  to  speak  with  assurance. 

That  in  him  holiness  was  power,  seems  to  bo  almost  uni- 
versally granted.  Is  there' a  man  in  this;  Confederacy  that 
has  any  doubt  as  to  the  secret  of  Jackson's  greatness  ?  It 
was  not  that  in  grasp  of  native  intellect,  in  briliancy  and. 
breadth  of  con-ccption,  in  vigor  of  reasoning  he  excelled 
others  .so  much ; — many  others  surpassed  him  in  each  of 
these,  both  in  the  lecture  room  and  the  camp,  who  must  ever 
hold  a  far  inferior  jflace  in  the  world's  history.  God  indeed 
had  gifted  him  w^th  a  mind  of  no  ordinary  force  and  clear- 
■  ness,  and  gfcat  native  energy  of  will;  but  it  was  not  this 
alone  or  mainly  that  made  him  great;  it  was  that  in  him 
above  all  other  men  I  ever  knew,  the  only  object  of  life  was 
just  to  do  the  Avill  of  God,  and  the  constant  posture  of  his  soul 
one  of  unli»esitating  confidence  in  God.  To  obey  God  in  all 
thino-s,  and  at  all  costs,  and  to  trust  him  implicitly  seemod 
for  many  years  to  have  been  the  fixed  hifbit  of  his  soul ;  not 


so  much  to  have  required  an  eHiim,,  as  to  be. the  steady  and 
spontaneous  working  of  his  whole  being.  It  al^QOst  seemed 
to  one  Y>-ho  watched  him  as  if  he  could  not  help  it ;  his 
whole  happiness  consisted  in.it.  lie  seems  to  have  been 
deeply  impressed  in  early  life  with  the  power  of  habit  ;  and 
from  the  very,  beginning  of  hjs  Christian  course  he  sought 
to  form  fixed  holy  habits,  extending  to  the  minutest  matters 
of  life,  iroiu  which  nothing  could  ever  make  him  swerve, 
and  which  were  the  secret  of  his  flosc  walk  with  God.  •  "  I 
never,"  said  he  to  a  very  dear  friend,  towhom  he  was  ac- 
customed to  unbosom  himself 'most  fully,  though  even  to 
such  he  never  spoke  of  himself  except  whfen  constrained  by 
a  sense  of  duty, — "  I  never  take  a  glass  of  water,  but  the 
moment  it  touches  my  lips,  my  heart  rises  in  thanksgiving 
to  God  and  prayer  for  his  blessing."  "But,  Major,  do  you 
nx)t  somctimos  forget?"  "No,"  said  he,  "I  think  not.  It 
is  so  much  of  a  Tiabit  now,  that  I  would  almost  as  easily  for- 
get to  drink."  lie  added,  "  I  never  drop  a  letter  ii>  the  of- 
fice, but  it  is  the  signal  for  prayer  to  God  to  bless  the  er- 
rand, on  which  it  goes.  I  never,  break  the  seal  of  a  letter 
but  1  make  it  the  signal  for  asking  God's  blessing  on  the  yet 
unknown  author  and  its  unknown  tidiiigs.  Vr'henever  I  sit 
down  in  my  loctureroom,  and  the  class  arc  assembling,  until 
all  is  quiet,— that  is  my  time  for  prayer  :-  and  when  one 
class  is  retiring  and  another  entering,  then  too  is  my  time 
for  prayer.  In  such  things  I  have  formed,  the  habit  and  I 
cannot  forget  it.  It  gives  me  inexpressible  enjoyment." 
Thus  he  lived,  kjuch  was  his  communion  with  God,  his  life 
of  fa,ith  and  prayer. .  And  here  was  the  secret  spring  of  his 
strength,  Ae  source  of  his  real  greatness.  He 'was  always 
with  Go'd,  and  he  became  like  God  as  very  few  do. 

lleference  to  another  of  his  habits  will  show  hov^',  in  the 
very  least  things  he  made  the  will  of  God  his  sole  law,  and 
how  s6dulously-  he  avoided  all  doubtful  grounds.  (.)f  the 
wickedness  of  Sabbath  mails,  he  was  long  iirmly  convinced. 
Carrying  out  his  principles  to  their  full'  length,  he  would 
never  permit  a,  letter  of  his  to  travel  in  the  mails  on  th« 
Sabbath  if  it  could  be  prevented.  He  would  carefully  count 
the  number  of  days  required  for  it  to  reach  its  destination, 
and  if  that  time  run  into  the  SabbiLth,  .unless  it  required  a 
whole  week  or  more — 210  urgency  of  business  could  prei^^nt 
him  from  laying  it  oveV  till  the  next  «\'eek.  When  he  en- 
tered on  his  professorship,  he  refrained,  as  a  matter  of  con- 
jscicnce,  from  reading  even  a  single  line  by  night,-  owing  to 


16       ' 

thq  weakness  of  his  cjes, — and  letters  received  en  Saturday 
night,  though  from  his  4carcst  friends,  remained  unopened 
until  early  on  Monday  morning.  And  so  supreme  and 
controlling  was  his  sense  of  duty,  that  this  never,  accordin^jr 
to  his  own  explicit  testimony,  caused  him  any  distraction  of 
mind,  but  rather  a  secret  pleasure  und  gratitude  to  God  that 
]i-c  was  thus  enabled  to  obey  him  in  all  things.  ^Yet  his  wns 
by  no  means  o.  scrupulous  conscience  which  is  always  dread- 
ing'•vil  when  there  is  nibe,  and  distressing  itself  wtth  im- 
aginary  fears;  no  man  was  over  more  free  from  this;  but 
one  rendered  peculiarly  dclLcatc  and  sensitive  by  the  unu- 
sual vigor  of  spiVitu&l  life,  making  it  shrink  instinctively 
from  the  slightest  touch  of  sin.  .And  that  testimony  of  his 
already  (juotcd  in  regard  to  this  matter,  deserves  to  be  held 
in  everlasting  remembrance, — -that  for  nearly- fifteen  years, 
during  which  he  had  avoided  all  use  of  Sabbath  mails,  in  no 
instance  had  there  i)een  occasion  for  regref,  but  on  the  con- 
trary, that  God  had  made  it  a.  source  of  pure  enjoyment. 
Let  the  church  and  the  world  both  gaze  upen'the  rare  ahd 
noble  cxanrple,  till  they  feci  its  power. 

Thus  walking  with,  God  in  prayer  and  holy  obedience,  he 
reposed  upon  God's'  promises  and  Providence  with  a  calm 
and  unflinching  reliance  beyond  any  man  I  ever  knew.  I 
shall  never  forget  the  manner,  and.touc  of  surprise  a-nd  child- 
like confidence  with  which  he  once  spoke  to  me  on  this  sub- 
ject. It  was  just  after  the  election  in  November,- 18G0, 
when  the  country  was  beginning  to  heave  with  the  agony  and 
throes  of  dissolution.  Wc.  liad  just  risen  from  morijing 
prayers  in  his  own  house,  where  at  the  time  I  was  a  guest, 
i^'illed  with  "gloom,  I  was  lamenting  in  strong  language  the 
condition  and  prospects -of  our  beloved  country.  "Why,"' 
said  he,  "  should  Chvistia'ns  beat  all  disturbed  about  the 
dissolution  of  tlic  Union  ?  •  It  can  only  come  by  God's  per- 
mission, caul  will  only  be  permitted,  if  for  bis  people's  good, 
for  does  he  not  say  a-ll  things  shall  work  together  for  good 
to  them  that  love  God  ?"  I  cannot. sec  why  loc  should  be 
distressed  about  such  things  whatever  be  their  consequences.." 
Nothihf^  seemed  ever  to  shake  that  faith  iii  God.  It  was  in 
him  a  truly  sublime  and  all  controlling. principle.  In  tbc 
beautiful  language  .of.  this  Psalm,  he  dwelt  in  the  ?ccrct 
place  of  the  Most  High,  h.e  made  the  Most  High  his  habita- 
tjion,  and  was  thus  placed  on  high  from  the  fear  of  evil. 
Together  with  that  extreme  fear  of  oftending  Qod  in  even 
the  least  thing,  which  was  the  only  fear  he  ever  knew, — ■ 


17  . 

this  lofty  faith  was  the  source  of  that  <juict  daring,  that 
lofty  heroism,  that  imperturbahlc  coolness  and  self  possession, 
even  in  those  sudden  and  dangerous  emcrgenoies  which 
wound  up  all  his  energies  to  their  utmost  tension,  that  made 
hiiji  the  model  soldier,  tjie  true  Christitin  hero. 
.  In  this  connection  it  may  be  observed,  that  he  seemed 
never  to  hold  an  opinion  that  did  not  at  once  havo  its  full, 
practical  weight  upon  his  conduct.  Nothing  formerly  struck 
me  more  than  this  in  his  character.  There  soomed  to  be  no 
discrepancy  between  his  head  and  his  heart,  his  belief  and  . 
his  practice.  To  believe  a  trutk  ^nd  act  upon  it  were  with 
him  one  thing. 

And  all  these  together  wont  to  constitute  that  ([uality 
which  has  long  been  regarded  by  his  most  intimate  friends, 
as  the  main  secret  of  his  power  and  success, — his  perfect 
singleness  of  purpose.  He  Iiad  no  by-ends  to  divide  his 
mind  or  his  heart.  This  self-abnegation  was,  I  believe,  as 
nearly  complete  as  that  of  any  mortal  thafe  ever  lived.  It 
was  mentioned  by  Dr.  White,  his  pastor,  at  his  fyncral,  that 
when  that  unfortunate  difficulty  occurred  in  the  Valley  which 
led  him  to  send  on  his  resignation  to  Richmond, — and  all 
'his  staflf  and  other  officers  gathering  round  him,  urged  him 
to  go  to  Richmond  himself  and  set  himself  right  with  the 
government — he  positively  refused,  saying,  "  I  have  but  two 
things  to  do,  to  serve  my  iSrod  and  my  country.  If  my 
country  has  not  confidence  in  me  here,  let  thcni  put  some 
one  in  my  place  in  whom  thc.y  have  confidence."  These 
two  things  in  his  case  really  re.  olved  themselves  into  one,  to 
obey  Crod,  so  that  really,  he  had  but  one  thing  to  do ;  hence 
his  judgment  was  clear,  his  plans  comprehensive,  his  action 
prompt,  his  energy  indomitable,  and  bis  success  unvarying- 
God  set  him  cm.  high,  becansc  he  knew  God's  name,  he  re- 
cognized his  sovereign  claims-- God's  will  was  his  aM. 

But  I  must  stop  this  imperfect  sketch.  Otkers  will  no 
doubt,  ere  long,'  do  full  justice  to  his  noble  character  and 
fully  portray  his  bright  example.  I  cannot,  however,  for- 
bear to  add  that  Gen.  Jackson  was  eminently  a  happy  man, 
cheerful  and  free  from  anxious  eare :  that  he  was  just  as 
kind,  aa-gentle  and  as  tender,  as  he  was  stern  yid  inexora- 
ble in  bis  requirements  when  duty  and  the  interests  of  his 
country  demjpaded,  and  as  he  was  lion-like  in  battle.  This 
picture  there  and  in  the  camp,  where  God  especially  elevated 
him  to  the  living  gaze  of  a  whole  people,  others  who-  saw 
him  and  bore  with  him  the  fatigues  and  perils  of  two  bloody 
years,  can  alone  portray, 


.  18 

Such  was  ia  some  respects  the  man  "whom  God  set  on  liigli 
amongst  us,  as  very  few  have  ev<'r  been  among  any  peo- 
ple befora,  and  •nhosc  logs  a  blccdini;;  couutiy  weeps  so  bit- 
terly. Will  you  boar  with  me  a  little  longer  while  J  add  a 
few  reflections.  Such  an  occasion, occurs  but  oncr  in  jny 
generation. 

1.  God  gave  him  to  us,  let  us  praise  him  for  the  gift. 
Few  nations  have  ever  been  blessed  in  their  infancy  or  e^'en 
iti  their  maturity,  with  such  a  man,  perhaps  iione  with  such 
a  perfect  Christian  Hero.  We  challenge  all  history  to  pro- 
duce his  superior,  nay,  liis*ci[ual  even,  in  this  respect.  God 
wonderfully  jirepaiied  him  for  his  work,  put  him  in  the  place 
for  which  he  had  been  fitting  him,  and  for  two  years  of 
bloody  conflict  crowned  him  with  unvarying  success.  He 
never  once  knew  .ilofeat.  Kernstown  i.s  covered  with  his. 
glory,  as  much  as  Manassas  or  Kichmond  or  Cliancellors- 
ville.  By  him  God  wrought  for  us  repeated  [and  glorious 
deliverances'.  J'or  our  yet  peaceful  homes  and  unravaged 
fields  in  i\\h  dear  old  Commomvealth  we  are  under  God 
greatly  indebted  to  his  toils  and  skill  and  rapid  energy  and 
valor,  and  for  these  to  his  religion.  God  heard  his  prayers, 
guided  his  decisions,  and  crowned  him  with  glorious  success,* 
and  to  God  he  gave  alw.ays  all  the  glory.  Let  us  not  cease 
to  praise  God  for  him,  and  to  be  encouraged  in  O'Ur  great 
struggle.  Can  wc  believe  tha^  God  would  liavc  given  us 
such  a  man,  and  answered  in  every  step  his  prayers  for  two 
eventful  years,  and  blessed  him  as  our'dcfcnder,  if  he  Jiad  not 
designs  of  mercy  for  us,  and  was  not  preparing  for  us  a  glo- 
rious deliverance,  and  us  for  it  ? 

2.  But  again.  God  has  taken'  him,  and  why  'i  He  fin- 
isiied  his  work  just  when  we  tliought  he  was  about  to  enter 
upon  a  stiU  more  glorious  series  of  triumphs.  Wo  are  all 
bereaved.  .  The  nation  indulges  a  personal  grief.  Never 
perhaps  did  such  a  throe  of  agony  pierce  a  nations  heart, 
at  the  fall  of  a  single  man  since  the  Dutcli  llepublic  stood 
horror-stricken  at  the  assassination  of  William,  Prince  of 
Orange.  The  inquiry  is  natural,  why  this  terrible  blow  ? 
Why  raise  up  just  the  instrument  we  necdbd,  and  then  re- 
move him  when  wc  seemed  to  need  him  as  much  if  not  more 
than  ever  ? 

Who  has  not  already  heard  in  it  the  voice  of  God  saying 
to  us,  "  Gease  ye  from  man,  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils  ; 
for  wherein  is  he  to  be  acQOunted  of?"  "Put  not  your  trust 
in  Princes,  nor  in  tho  Son  of  ma;n,  in  whom,  there  is  no 


10 

help.  His  breath  gocth  forth,  he  retumeth  to  the  earth,  in 
that.very  clay  his  thoughts  perish.  Happy  is  he  that  hath 
the  God  of  Jacob  for  his  lielp,  -wlmse  hope  is  in  the  Lord 
his  God."'  IF  this  nation  had  a;i  idol  it  rras  Jackson.  If 
there  was  any  mere  instrument  to  whom  they  were  in  dan^rer 
of  giving  glory  beyond  what  is  man's  due.  it  was  he.  Where- 
ever  Jackson  w.ib  known  to  be,  there  all  was  regarded  as 
safe ;  men  hardly  ever  felt  the  need  of  prayer  for  that  as 
for  other  portions  threatened  by  our  foe — it  was  already  se- 
cure, llis  past  safety  toowas  taken  as  almost  a  pled*^  of  his 
future.  God  has  thus  taught  u^  that  wo  must  depend  di- 
rectly upon  him.  Nothing  hUed  Jackson  with  greater  solici- 
tude than  the  thought  that  men  were  praising  himi  It  made 
him  tremble  in  anticipation  of  heavier  judgments  through 
God'i^lispleesure.  God  will  ifot  give  his  glory  to  another. 
Depohdcnce  upon  God  secured  Jackson's  success,  and  it  "will 
as  certainly  secure  our  success.  If  we  will  not  honor  God, 
he  will  not  honor  us.  Nothing  we  can  conceive  of  could 
teach  us  this  great  lesson,  as  Jackson's  death  is  calculated 
to  do  it.  If  it  docs  this,  it  will  be  a  blessing  fully  equal  to 
his  life ;  if  it  fails  to  do  it,  it  would  seem  that  notliin'g  else 
can,  we  can  look  only  to  be  a  cast  oif  people.  Let  it  then 
be  a  voice  to  the  church  calling  her  to  rally  round  the  throne 
of  grace  as  never  before,  and  to  the  whole  nation  to  hum- 
ble itself  under  the  mighty  hand  of  a  holy  God. 

8.  Observe  again  that  while  God  his  taken  him  away,  he 
has  set  on  high  his  example,  and  enshrined  it  in  the  hearts 
of  this  people,  and  is  holding  it  up  in  its  beauty  and  power, 
as  if  to  draw  us  on  in  those  bright  footsteps.  The  very  time 
and  circumstances  of  his  death  were  all  such  as  to  awaken 
peculiar  and  melancholy  interest,  and  so  force  attention  to 
his  example,  as  if  God  intended  that  not  a  single  eleuient 
should  be  wanting  to  perfect  the  influence  of  that  example. 
It  is  a  great  thing  to  be  mad#  clearly  to  see  the  right  way, 
and  to  love  and  admire  it.  Here  it  is  so  exhibited  as  to  stii- 
our  deepest  emotions.  His  death  has  perfected  that  exam- 
ple, and  spread  it  out  in  all  its  fullness  as  it  could  not  have 
been  had  he  lived.  Just  at  a  time  when  sorrow  and  peril  had 
rendered  the  nation's  heart  peculiarly  plastic,  and  when  its 
character  is  being  permanently  moulded,  God  has  thus  thrown 
out  upon  it  this  glorious  example  of  the  power  -of  holiness 
with  a  force  that  every  heart  is  bound  to  feel.  God  so  or- 
dered his  life  as  to  show  in  the  very  heavens  that  his  success 
aild  eminence  was  due  to  his  religion — that  without  this  ele- 


20 

ment  we  never  could  have  had  a  Jackson,  witliout  it  he 
would  have  been  just  like  Samson  without  his  locks  ;  he  then 
made  him  the  object  of  our  enthusiastic  love,  and  now  by 
his  death  he  sets  him  on  high  enshrined  in  a  glory  as  un- 
changing as  it  is  attractive,  the  very  impersonation  of  holi- 
ness in  its  bearing  upon  onr  present  success  and  our  future 
prosperity.  A  tenderer  and  more  stirring  call  was  never 
made  upon  any  people  to  turn  to,  to  trust  in,  and  to  serve 
the  Lord. 

4.  Finally,  the  spirit  of  Tack^n,  in  our  rulers,  our  military 
leaders,  and  ©ur  people  can  alone  save  ub  and  perpetuate  us 
as  a  nation.  In  him  God  has  shown  us  the  only  way  to  trir 
umpt  and  perpetuity.  Blessed  be  his  name  that  he  has  not 
left  us  without  some  at  least  who  partake  of  his  spirit,  and 
that  the  noble  chief  of  our  armies,  our  beloved  and  honored 
and"  magnanimous  Lee  is  strong  in  tho  fear  of  God.  ^lay 
he  raise  up  many  such  I  Who  does  not  fully  believe  that  if 
our  rulers  and  generals  and  legislators  and  a  majority  of  the 
people  had  been  actuated  by  the  godly  spirit  of  our  Jackson 
this  war  would  have  ended  before  this  ?  In  the  light  of  hia 
example  and  triumphs,  how  clearly  appears  the  curse  of  un- 
f^odliness  to  a  nation  !  IIow  dark  the  reproach  and  how 
damning  the  influenc*  of  sin !  Who  now  will  turn  away 
from  Jackson's  God  and  the  religion  of  the  cross  ?  What 
patriotic  heart  will  refuse  to  bow  in  humble  prayer  and  obe- 
dience to  the  God  of  nations  ?  If  any  such  there  be  let 
him  remember  that  so  far  as  he  can,  he  is  intercepting  tho 
blessino'  of  heaven,  drawing  down  its  wrath  upon  our  suffer- 
ing land,  acid  blasting  his  own  highest  hopes. 

To  our  young  men  what  a  noble  example !  Where  it  the 
youthful  soul  so  insensible  to  all  that  is  lovely  and  glorious, 
that  he  will  nOt  aspire  to  copy  it  ?  AVhere  is  now  that  worst 
'  of  cowards,  who  is  ashamed  to  pray,  and  be  an  earnest  and 
singular  Christian?  To  our  iflilitary  men  his  example  comes 
with  peculiar  force :  it  sho^ys  that  tjic  greatest  military  suc- 
cess as  well  as  all  those  high  and  manly  qualities  that  enter 
into  the  very  idea  of  a  true  soldier,  are  not  only  consistent 
with,  but  in  their"  highest  degree,  dependent  upon  tho  fear  of 
God ;  and  it  also  rebukes  that  ambition  and  mere  love  of 
glory  which  is  the  great  oursc  of  military  life.  To  every 
man,  woman  and  child  in  our  land  it  appeals^  and  especially 
to  every  Christian,  pouring  shame  on  the  cold,  half-hearted 
follower  of  Jesus,  and  calling  all  to  a  life  of  earnest  and  en- 
tire consecration  to  God,  and  close  communion  with  hiili. 


^1 

Let  the  watchword  then  of  our  wholo  country  in  her  pr^ent 
bloody  struggle,  and  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  the  grea* 
work  now  devolved  on  her,  to  form  the  moral  character  of 
the  nation,  and  of  every  individual  in  his  warfere  with  temp- 
tation and  sin,  bo  that  with  which  on  the  morning  after  his 
fall  another  gallant  officer  led  his  triumphant  corps  to  the 
charge — "  Forward,  and  remember  Jackson  ;"  only  adding, 
"  In  the  name  of  Jackson's  God."  Fear  not,  falter  not, 
flinch  not,  trust  in  God  and  victory  is  ours;  victory  over  our 
country's  foes,  over  all  the  foo8  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 
over  sin  and  hell  and  death.  God  will  set  us  on  high,  if  we 
revere  hii  name. 


